Advent Devotion – Friday, December 7

Centering Verse: See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. (Isaiah 55:5)

Explore:

In what ways are you thirsting for God?

How are you “spending” your life for God’s glory and for the sake of others?

In what ways can you be a witness for God in the world?

Reflect:

The coming of the Christ child opened up the promises of God to all peoples of the earth. What had originally been a special experience for one nation was now a blessing for all. Jesus saw himself as a gate, through which Jewish and non-Jewish people alike could access God. The family circle of the Kingdom of God is always ready to expand and bring in those who are on the margins. I love the last phrase in the verse above. Of course, God glorified Jesus Christ so that people would experience the glory of God. But God also glorifies us so that others might see his glory. Jesus echoed this when he said that we “are the light of the world [and] a city built on a hill” (Matthew 5:14). There is someone on the margins who will see your light today. Someone might be ready to run toward God if they will just hear us call them forward. Your words, your actions, and your attitudes can all be a part of that gate-opening experience for them. Keep your eyes alert and your heart open—God is using you to expand the family circle!